Marking device



Sept. 7,, 1954 R. E. KLAUSS MARKINGVDEVICE Filed June 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1' 0a 1 Q i L M l -u Q Gi a? \1 I O 1 f m j RALPH E.KLAU3$ 2 v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 7, 1954 R. E. KLAUSS 2,683,189

MARKING DEVICE Fi led June 22, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 RALPH E. KLAUSS INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm D m 1 1m Rm Sept 7, 1954 Filed June 22, 1951 VIII, a

RALPH E; KLAUSS INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED IST'i'iZfi PATENT OFFME MARKING DEVICE Ralph E. Klauss, Rochester, N. Y., as'signor to Eastman Kodak CompanyQRochester, N. Y.,' a

corporation of New Jersey Application June 22, 1951, Serial No. 233,096

"1 Claims. 1

The presentinventionrelates to a marking de- Vice for selectively applying short, straight marks to a moving strip of material which serve as signal marks to control a subsequent operation to be performed on said strip, and particularly to a device for making signal markswhich are electrically conductive and serve to bridge two spaced contacts in the electric control circuit of a machine adapted to perform a certain function at successive points along the strip of material in accordance with the position of said signal marks. One application for this marking device, and which application the device was especially designed for and will be disclosed in connection with, is in connection with a photographic printer which is adapted to make a plurality of prints on a long strip of sensitive paper and which prints are then adapted to be chopped from the strip at a later time by the use of an electrically operated chopper. A print chopper of the type in'question is disclosed in U. S. application SJN. 221,632, filed April 18,1951, of which I am one of the coinventors. In this print chopper, the strip of prints is fed from a supply roll to a guillotine-type chopper by a feeding apparatus which can be readily stopped. The feed of the film strip is stopped and the chopper is actuated when electrically conductive signal marks, previously placed on the back of the strip of prints in proper relation to. the leading edge of each print, bridge two spaced electrical contacts disposed in the path of the film'strip and completes a control circuit of the chopper for stopping the paper feed and setting the chopper into operation. These signal marks must be placed on the film stri in proper spaced relation with the leading edge of each print ifthe successive prints are to be uniformly chopped from the strip with equal margins. Accordingly, it is common practice to place these signal marks on the back of the film strip during the printing operation, a mark being placed on the back. of each print area in a given spaced relation to the leading edge of the print area and at a given distance from the longitudinal edge of the strip of prints so that they will cooperate with the spaced pick-up contacts located in the paper path of the print chopper.

As shown in the above-noted copending application, the spaced pick-up contacts of the. print chopper may extend longitudinally of the paper path so that the signal marks on the paper, which are short, straight marks extending transversely of the strip of prints, extend across the contacts in a direction normal thereto and thus bridge them in a lengthwise direction. Another way in which the pick-upcontacts can be' disposed, and

which has certain advantages over the first-mentioned, is to have them extend transversely of the paper path. Then if the signal marks on the prints are'sligh'tly wider than the spacing between the contacts, the signal marks will bridge them in a widthwise direction. In either case, it is imperative that the signal marks on the prints be absolutely contiguouaand not of an interrupted or broken nature, in order that a satisfactory electrical contact be provided thereby. If the mark is made with alead pencil which producesasuitable electrical conducting mark, it is imperative that the mark be of sufficient'density to provide a the necessary electrical conductive properties. Should the pick-up contacts of the cutter be arranged transversely of the film path to .=be bridged by the width of the signal marks, thenwit is desirable that the leading edge of the signal markstbe straight, rather than raggedso that the control circuit of the" cutter will be completed 'along the entire-length'of the mark at the same time to given goodand sufiicient contact.

One object of the .present invention is to provide a marking device for placing short, straight signalmarksat selected intervals along a strip of sheet material supported flatwise in a given plane.

Another object is to provide a marking device of the type described in which the mark is made by a stick-of ordinary graphiteleadcapable of making a. mark having suitable electrical conductive properties to constitute a conductor of an electric control circuit, and inwhich the stick of lead is carried in a mechanical type pencil.

A further'object isto provide a marking device of the typementioned wherein the pencil is so mounted that in-moving through its marking stroke the point of the lead moves in an are which normally intersectsthe plane occupied by the sheetto be marked, but the lead is resiliently mounted so that it is retracted as it engages the sheet. .Due tothis arrangement of parts, the lead is alwaysspring-pressed against the sheet during the marking operation and as theresult of which a mark is obtained which is uniformly dense throughout'its length-and over a width sufiicient to bridge the control contacts of the cutter.

And another object is to provide means for automatically feeding the lead from the pencil in response to its marking motion, the feeding mechanism being such that the lead is fed only when it hasbeen worn off'sufiiciently to require replenishment.

And still another object is to provide a marking device which is so mounted that the aspect of the point of the lead to the paper is continuously changed so that a uniformly dense mark is obtained which has good conductivity. Also, a signal mark having a sharp or straight longitudinal edge on the side toward the direction of feed is obtained.

And yet another object is to provide a marking device which is mounted so that it can be adjusted longitudinally and/or transversely of the paper plane to alter the position of the mark to accommodate various sizes of sheets.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a front elevational view showing a marking device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention used in combination with a photographic printer of the strip type;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the marking device and showing its mounting;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the pawl and ratchet feed for the pencil lead and taken substantially from line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the normal path of the pencil point and the linkage for supporting and moving the pencil through its marking stroke;

Fig. 7 is a top plane view corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing the means for mounting the marking device so that it can be adjusted to various positions to accommodate different sizes While for purposes of disclosure I have shown my novel marking device in combination with a photographic printer to place electrical conducting signal marks on the backs of the individual prints for the purpose of later controlling the operation of a print chopper which chops the individual prints from the strip, it will be understood that the device is in no way limited to such an application. It could be used in conjunction with any strip-handling apparatus to place signal marks on the strip for controlling any subsequent operation to which the strip might be subjected. Furthermore, the signal marks need not be electrical conducting marks, but could be signal marks to control the operation of a photoelectric pick-up in the control of a machine.

In Fig. 1, I have shown my novel marking device in combination with an existing projectiontype photographic printer wherein the image to be printed is projected upwardly onto a printing plane where PP indicates the top of a projecting printer. Since this type of printer is well-known, it has not been shown in the drawings, but to indicate the location of the printing plane, the axial beam of the upwardly projected rays of the printer has been indicated as B in Fig. 1. Fixed atop the printer is a roll-paper head for feeding a strip of light-sensitive paper intermittently across the exposure aperture of the printer and taking up the exposed paper in a roll. The roll of exposed prints is then processed in strip form and later chopped into individual prints. The roll-paper head shown here is identical with that disclosed in U. 8. Patent 2,541,013, to which reference can be had for a detailed description thereof. Since the roll-paper head and printer per se form no part of the present invention, only so much of this apparatus and its operation will be described herein as is necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the roll-paper head includes a supply spindle It on which a supply roll 14 of light-sensitive paper may be detachably mounted, and any suitable form of friction retard can be applied to the supply spindle to prevent the paper from feeding 01f thereof too freely. The paper P, upon leaving the supply roll, passes over a tension roll l5 to guide roller l6 and thence horizontally across the printing plane of the printer to a rubber-covered measuring feed roll l1, over a pressure roll l8 which acts to hold the paper in wrapped relation with the feed roll and thence to the take-up roll l9 mounted on a take-up spindle 20. The rubber-covered measuring roll H is adapted to feed different selected lengths of paper automatically intermittently across the printing plane at the instigation of the operator, the exposure being made when the paper is stationary. To this end the drive for the measuring feed roll may comprise a constantly operating friction clutch, not shown, normally tending to drive the roll. The roll is stopped and held stationary for a given time by a pawl 45 which is normally pressed into engagement with a ratchet 43 fixed to the shaft carrying the measuring roll. The roll is released to feed the paper when a solenoid 41 is energized upon operation of a foot switch by the operator. The pawl is held out of contact with the ratchet for a given time by a masking cam, not shown, rotating in conjunction with the measuring roll. The effective length of the masking cam can be adjusted to vary the length of paper feed after release of the measuring roll and until the pawl drops off the cam to reengage the ratchet and again stop the roll. Any suitable tensioning drive may be applied to the take-up spindle 20 since all this spindle does is take up the slack in the paper between it and the measuring roll I! as it feeds.

That portion of the paper passing over the exposure aperture is held flat, emulsion side down, against the head of the printer in the printing plane by a platen 29 which is loosely mounted on the vertical mechanism plate I I, see Fig. '7, of the roll-paper head to float relative to the paper and hold it flat in the printing plane due to its own weight. This platen need not be moved away from the paper before the latter is advanced, because the platen exerts only very little pressure on the paper and the top surface of the printer head is cut away so that only the lateral margins of the emulsion surface of the paper rub on the printer head during its advance movement.

Coming now to the present invention, I have provided a marking device for selectively placing signal marks on the back of each print as the paper is stationary while an exposure is being made. While such signal marks can be applied to different types of strip material for different purposes, in the present applicationvofmy-marking. devicethey are intended to :be used as-"electrical conductors for closing an open. switch the control circuit of an automatic electricchopperwhich chops the. strip-of prints up into the individual prints. For thiszpurpose, each signal mark must bear a definite'relation to the leading edge of the print towhich itis applied so that when the print is chopped in response to its passing, the pick-up contacts in thecontrol circuit of the chopper, a suitable margin will .be left on each print.

:As clearly shown in Figs. 2 andz3, this marking device consists of a mechanical pencil having an outer-tubular casing Ell within which, is slidably and rotatably mounted a .leadcarrying barrelfil A-stick of ordinary :graphite lead -52,.':orother suitable marking material, which will be worn off by'friction against the paper and: leave an electrically conductive mark on the. paper is slidahly mounted within the barrel 5t to extend from the endthereof. The lower end of the barrel 5i may be tapered as shown and be split longitudinally, asindicated at 53, to provide resilient fingers for frictionally gripping the stick of :lead and preventing it from falling out of the barrel due to gravity. Extending into the upper end of the barrel 5! is a pusher rodli lwhosealower end engages the top end of the stick of lead. When this rod is moved longitudinallyof the barrel, it will force the stick of lead out of the lower end of the barrel to renew the marking point thereof. To this end, the upper end of the pusher rod is provided with a relatively fine screw thread 55 which is for all practical purposes inthreaded engagement with a complementary internal thread in the top end of the barrel 5!. Now if thepusher rod is kept from-rotating and the barrel 5! is rotated, then the pusher, rod will be moved longitudinally of the barrel to feed the lead therefrom. This set of conditions is accomplished to automatically control the, feed of the lead in response to the marking movement of the pencil in accordance with the rate of wearing away of the point of the lead by means to'be fully described hereinafter.

in order to mount the pencil above the paper so that a short, straight mark of uniform density can be made on the back of each print while the strip of paper is stationary, the following structure is provided. The supporting bracket for the pencil comprises two parallel spaced plates 5% and 5'! which extend substantially verticallyabove the printing plane and lie in planes substantially nor mal to the paper plane. While these plates could be truly normal to the paper plane, onlyI have found that certain advantages arederived-from having them lean from the normal slightly in the direction of feed of the paper P, see Fig. 2, so that the pencil is tipped relative to thepaper plane and its lead is worn off at an. angle rather than square to its axis. I have found that if the pencil is held perfectly vertical to the paper, there is more tendency for the leadto. make a stuttering mark as it is moved across the paper than when the pencil is tipped. Furthermore, it has been found by tests that it is necessary to continuously change the aspect of the lead tip to the paper surface if a uniformly dense markis toloe produced which hasgood electrical conductivity and tipping the pencil, as shown, aids in this respect. Tests have shown that if a graphite pencil lead. is repeatedly moved across a paper surface with its axis vertical to the paper so thatits aspectto the paper cant be changed, thee-endofthe sur- P face of the lead seems to becomecase: hardened, or suffer some similar effect, as the result of which its marking properties decrease and thendensity of the mark made, or the deposit *ofrgraphite'wit leaves on the paper, decreases to a point where its conductive properties become nonexistent or insufficient for the intendedpurpose.

The plates 56 and 5'! are held in'spaced relation by three tie rods-5$. Extending throughan aperture near the top of each of the plates-56 and 51 are bearings 59 which may be fixed in place by bolts to engaging a flanges! :on the end of the bearings and threaded into the plates, see 2. The two bearings 59 arecoaxial but their axis is inclined toward the printing plane in which the paper 3? is held flatwise emulsion side down, the inclination of this axis beingdownward in the direction of movement of the paper 'P asshown in Fig. Rotatably mountedon the bearings 59 the cross arm 52 of a T-shapedtubular casting The pencil is telescopically supported in; the downwardly/"extending branch 64 of thecasti-ng $3 so-that as the casting swingsabout its pivotal axis the pencil is swung transversely of the strip of paper located in the printing plane.

For swinging the pencil tip through its marking stroke, the following structure is provided. l Oscillatably mounted on an axis A extending parallel to the direction of feed of the paper and to one side of the pivoted axis of the casting-63 is a disc or wheel 55 having a crank pin'lifi eccentrically mounted on the face thereof. Acrank 'armx 61 is pivoted at one end on pin E6 and .has a circular band on its other end which embraces a circumferential recess in the outside surface of the tubular casing ofv the pencil. Since only a relatively short signal mark is required on the paper, I have found that only about .a movement of the disc 65 is required to give the pencil tip the necessary marking stroke. As indicated in Fig. 6, the complete stroke of the pencil tip in the present application can be obtained by moving the'crank pin from a starting position (a) where it is approximately 10 below the horizontal through the disc axis to an end position (:r) where the pin is 55 below the horizontal axis. :Whilethe pin is moving from position (a) to position (2:), the other end of crank arm ill fixedto the pencil casing is moved through the arc (a.') (:c' thus tending to cause the tip of the lead 52 to be moved through an are (a) (22") which cuts down and across the plane occupied by paper P. The sliding connection between the pencil casing and leg 5d of the tubular casting 622 permits the pencil to move downwardly toward the paper asit is swung by the crank arm fixed thereto. In-Figs. 2 and 3 the pencil is shown in that point of its stroke just after the tip of the lead hasengaged the paper.

In order to permit the tip of the lead to move along the surface of the paper, despite the fact that the normal path thereof intersects thepaper plane, the lead carrying barrel ii is springpressed downwardly by a, compression spring '10 disposed between a shoulder on the pencil casing to and a flange ii on the lead barrel. ,By virtue of this spring mounting, when the pencil tip reaches the point in its travel where it engages the papen the spring starts-to'compress and increases in compression asthe pencil completes its stroke.

mounting of the lead acts to overcome any chattering action which the lead might tend to have in moving across the paper because of its peculiar marking stroke.

While any number of suitable arrangements could be provided for oscillating the disc 65 between its two extreme positions of movement, I have found it practical and desirable to do it by means of a rotatable solenoid of conventional design. As is well known to those skilled in the art, such rotatable solenoids comprise an annular coil mounted in a generally circular housing 12 which in this instance is fixed to the plate 51 and having a plunger 13 which extends axially of the coil. This coil is connected to a source of power by cord 72, one lead of which may include a switch S for closing the circuit to the same. On the outer end of this plunger 13 there is fixed a disc, which is disc 55 and which is held in spaced relation with the top of the armature housing by a plurality of balls 14 riding in arcuate slots, not shown, in the face of the disc and top of the coil housing. These arcuate slots vary slightly in depth from one end to the other to allow a minute axial movement of the plunger relative to the coil when the latter is energized, and are also shaped so that this axial movement of the plunger will be translated with an oscillatable movement of the disc. Accordingly, when the solenoid is energized, the disc 65 is rotated through 45 in the present instance from the position (a) to the position (at) and as the result of which the pencil tip is moved from its inoperative position above the paper to its operative position across the paper. A spring is generally incorporated in the solenoid to normally return the disc 55 to its inoperative position when the solenoid is deenergized. However, rather than attempting to show the interior construction of this commercially available solenoid, which in reality forms no part of the present invention per se, I have shown this return action of disc 65 as being eifected by a coil spring I50 encircling plunger 13 between the disc 65 and the housing 12 of the solenoid, said spring having one end engaging a pin I52 fixed to the housing and its other end I53 engaging a pin I54 extending from the rear face of disc 65. A solenoid is particularly adapted to moving the pencil through its marking stroke in the present application because the switch S controlling the same can be associated with the printing apparatus to be automatically closed when the paper feed is stopped and during the time the exposure is made. scribed is commercially available under the trade name of Ledex.

The top end of the leg 64 of the tubular casting 53 terminates in a flanged sleeve portion onto which a tubular cap 16 slides to cover the open end of the pencil and the upper end of push rod 54. This cap 16 includes a longitudinal slot I? through which a turned-over end '18 of the pusher rod extends. The upper end of the sleeve 75 is provided with a longitudinal slot into which a stud 79 on the cap 16 extends to prevent rotation of the cap. Since the cap cannot rotate, the pusher rod 54 is held against rotation so that when the lead carrying barrel 5| is rotated in the proper direction, the pusher rod is caused to move downwardly and push the lead from the barrel. The position of the turnedover end '18 of the pusher rod in the slot 11 of the cap 16 gives a visual indication of the length of the stick of lead which the pencil contains.

A rotatable solenoid of the type de- While ordinarily one would not expect the direction in which the lead is rotated during the feeding operation to make any difference in the functioning of this marking device, I have found that a decided improvement in quality of line is obtained for the present purpose if the lead is rotated in a clockwise direction.

Fixed to the upper end of the lead carrying barrel 5| is a ratchet 80, the teeth 8| of which extend downwardly. While this ratchet could be attached to the barrel 5| in any number of ways, I have shown it threaded thereto and locked in adjusted position by a set screw 82. Rather than internally thread the upper end of the lead carrying barrel for engagement with the external threads on the pusher rod, for practical purposes I have found it desirable to thread a bushing 83 into the ratchet, lock it in place with a set screw 84, and then have this bushing internally threaded for engagement with the external threads on the pusher rod. This gives the same result as internally threading the lead carrying barrel 5| and screwing it directly to the pusher rod so far as the lead feeding function is concerned, but it has the advantages that the parts are easier to make, more readily assembled, and their relative positions can be adjusted for purposes to be pointed out below.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 85 extending through the tubular casting 63 adjacent the juncture of the legs 52 and 64 is a pawl 85 which is adapted to engage and index said ratchet at certain times and under certain conditions, see Figs. 3 and 5. Looking at Fig. 5, this pawl is normally spring-pressed in a counterclockwise direction by a coiled spring 81, a tail 88 on the pawl engaging a stop pin 89 to limit the movement of the pawl in this direction. Now when the pencil moves counterclockwise through its marking stroke from its inoperative position to its operative position, the pawl 85 will slip over the teeth of the ratchet 80. However, on the return stroke of the pencil, the pawl will engage and index the ratchet, and along with it the lead carrying barrel 5| to feed the lead, providing the combined length of the lead 52 and lead carrying barrel 5| becomes too short as the lead Wears off to allow the ratchet to drop down into engagement with the pawl. If the lead has not worn away suiiiciently, the ratchet will not be permitted to drop down into engagement with the pawl and no feeding of the lead will occur. Due to the crank driving mechanism for the pencil which causes the pencil to have a longitudinal component of movement it will be realized that the pawl will not engage the ratchet throughout the entire length of the pencil movement. At best, the pawl can only engage the ratchet for a small portion of this complete travel and will, therefore, index the lead carrying barrel 5| only by the width of a couple of teeth of the ratchet. By proper choice of pitch for the ratchet teeth and threads between the bushing 83 and lead carrying barrel 5|, the degree of lead feeding per each stroke can be controlled. By adjusting the position of the ratchet so on the lead carrying barrel 5| through the use of its threaded connection therewith, the combined length of the lead 52 and barrel 5| which controls the engagement of the pawl and ratchet can be varied. It is pointed out that the parts could be arranged to feed a minute length of lead at each stroke of the pencil under the assumption that a given amount of lead would be e sages 9 worn'ofi each t i-me -a mark is made. *However, 'I havefoundthat'the'same amount of--lead is not-worn away-as each'stroke; is'made, and that for this reason better results are I obtained if 'thefeeding of the lead I is 'rnade responsive to a -certain-wearing away of the'lead. washer =W is rotatably mountedon the flange H of the barrel 5 i for the lower: end of compression spring 10 to'rest on-sothatthis-spring-willnot tend to wind up as the barrel 5| =is indexed to feed the lead.

I have found-by tests'that itis necessary to continuouslychangethe aspect-ofthe lead top to the papersurface if a uniformlydense mar-k is to be produced which has 1 good conductivity. This is accomplished by this 1 marking-device because while amark-is being produced the angle of the pencil to "the paper is continually changing because of its pivoting about bean ings 59. Also, as the lead feeds,*it=rotates with the inner barrel 5! in the outer barrel r casing 53. The fact that :the pencil is inclined slightly relative to the paper in the direction of feed. of thepencil (see"Fig.:=2) not only facilitates a smooth movement: of the leadtipacross the paperbut alsoinsures that the edgeof'the mark on the leaving sideof the .lead will be sharp, rather than ragged, and that the 1 leading edgeof the mark, forareasonablewidth, will be i uniformly more dense than i the trailing edge of'the mark. Itzis thisleading edgexo'f thelmark which isrelied upon .to bridge theipickeup contacts inthe control circuit of the print chopper.

For .placingsignal 2 marks. on a strip 1 of prints of one given size, the vertical supportingbracketszfit and?! canlbe fixedlymountedxtoithe rollpaper head above the printing plane With-the end of the pencil extending through :an elongated .slot'ili in:the platen 29, see.Fig.:1. However, in photographicprinters Whichlare adapted to ,make ,a number of different sized photographic prints, the .marking device must be. adiustably mounted so that ;:the different. sizes .of prints can be accommodated and :the :signal marks can be placed on these 'difierent. sizes of prints in proper relation to the leading edge of each print and a given distance :from the; longitudinal margin of the stripof ,prints. To this end, the followingadjustable mounting for .the marking device has been devised.

Fixed tothe mechanism plateill of .therollpaper head .of the printer is a box-like :.,frame 96 having an upstanding front Wall [.91, upstanding end .wall 98-and apartialhorizontal bottomiconsisting of corner supports .99. gExtending from-.thelowerends of brackets :56 and 5'! of the;markingudevice are'horizontal-wings l;0l,.each wing havinga finger-tab 102 extending transversely from the frontedge thereof. The wings :Hll constitute an adjustable=supporting plate for =themarking device'which vis located in parallel relation-withand below 'the partial bottom -99 of frame -96 with the marking device andits brackets 56 and '57 extending upwardlybetween said corner supports 99 of frame 96. The marking device supporting plate is connected to thebottom cornersBQ of frame .195 by a pair of spaced studs ,lil3,.one mounted in each wing it! and extending upwardly .through an elongated zig-zag slot 1M in webs of .the corner supports 99. "Compression springs I00 surrounding the shank-of said studs normally pull the wings lfll up againstthe under face of the bottom'corners 9'9 -of"frame*'95, seeFigxB.

-T'he-zi-g-zag slots l 04 permitthe "marking de- 10 -vicesupporting plate to be shifted longitudinally and transversely of the box frame 96 --and printing plane to accommodate prints of different 'sizes.

The marking device is adapted to be locked in its different-positions of-adjustmentwhen-a pairof locating pins, not shown,"eXtendingverti- -cal;I-y downwardly from the-corner plates 99 enage one 'of a series of locating holes H *disposed in a certain patternin' eachofthe wings rill. lt will be notice'd that 'the pattern of holes 935 is such as a to allow both a longitudinal and transverse adjustment -of the -marking device I relative to the -frarne 96 and henee theprinting lane. The relative location of these holes is l termined by r the various sizes of prints which the photographic printer 'is adapted to :accommodate. In order E to adjust a the location of I the einarkingi device, it: is: oniy. necessary to first press (down. on. each. of i the finger 5 tabs :lill-Z. This ful- -cr;ums .the .wings 1120! around the rear ;.edge :of ethe. corner plates :9 9,:compresses springs 1| llllsand idisengagesrtheien aged holes I 0.5:from the looking :pins. With .the .finger tabs vthus depressed, .the "marking vdevice ;can .-.be ,shifted 'relative ito ;.frame 9:65 -to zthe .zdesiredzposition-and .thenr-re- :leased whereupon :;it :rwill :snap :to .a .locked .,condition. :Cooperationrbetweeniaiscale-L09 onz the {top of one .of ;.the finger 2 tabs [-02 with theied e of1thezfrontwwallr9llof ifframe 98 will guide rthe operator to the; proper transverseaadjustmentgof .-,the marking -.device :(see vFi 'while cooper- .ation between a -sca1e 1 H] on r the front wall 9'! .w-ith-the right handiedge of the fingerTtabJrUZ will guide the operator to:the propenlongitudinal adjustment (seeF-ig. 1). -A pin lii extending downwardly from a tabJ I2 extending from-the .rear edge of one-of thewingsl-OI is;a,dapte,d.to engage the .top -,of the printer, ..or .other fixed horizontalsurface, .to .acttas a fulcrum against .Which the compressionsprings- [Bil-act. in. return- ,ing ,thewings t0 I.to their normal, position against the under surface of corner supports .99, see Fig. 8.

.Although.I have shovvnand described my novel marking device v.as applied to a photographic printer. andformaking electrical. conductingv signal marksonthe back of-eachprint of .astrip to control. anautomatic chopping machine, it .will be understood that .my marking device .is not limited tosuch applications-or to the making ofsignal-markstdbe used only in thismanner. For instance, thegsignalmarks instead ofbeirlg electrically conductive could be used tocontrol the .light falling on ,the photocell .of .a ,pick-up control .circuit .of a chopping machine or other type .of ,machine adapted .to ,perform some operation .on the paperstrip. ,I am aware that mar-king devices have been used .for .this same generalpurpose in which a ,penusing. aconductive .inkwas usedinstead of amechanicallead pencil. ,My lead pencil .has many advantages .over .pens .for this purpose for the reasons that (1) .no ink'.is usedwhichisaptto.spillorflood over the printer apparatus, (2) a sharper and more uniform signaLmark can=be made witha lead pencil, (3) .no;.provision for drying .an ink mark. andinsuring its notbeing-washed out duringtheprocessing step is involved-(4) thedead of. a .pencilcan be. automatically fed to the-Work asrequiredbyits wearingavvay dueto friction and (5) the aspecto'f the lead tip to thepaper can 'be continuously varied toinsure a uniformly dense mark which has good conductivity.

nlthough'I have "shownan'd described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not intended to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown and described, but is intended to cover all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A marking device for placing a short straight line on a sheet of material supported flatwise in a given plane, comprising in combination a mechanical pencil having a stick of lead adapted to be worn 01f by friction against the sheet and including a rotatable means for feeding the lead from said pencil, a fixed supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, means for moveably mounting said pencil on said supporting bracket so that the end of its lead in moving from an inoperative position to an operative position will normally describe an are starting above said given plane and finishing below said plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversly of said plane, means for moving said pencil between its two positions, means for mounting the lead in the pencil so that it is capable of a limited longitudinal sliding movement relative to the pencil proper, a spring normally acting to project said lead from the end of said pencil whereby said lead will be retracted as it engages said sheet during movement of said pencil from its inoperative position to its operative position and will be resiliently urged into contact with said sheet during the marking stroke to make a uniformly dense mark, and driving means adapted to operatively engage said rotatable means to rotate the same in response to movement of said pencil from its operative to its inoperative position, said rotatable means and driving means so arranged that they are capable of operative engagement only when the end of the lead has been worn away by a given amount.

2. A marking device for placing a short, straight line on a sheet of material supported flatwise in a given plane, and comprising in combination a fixed supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, a tubular casting rotatably mounted on said supporting bracket with its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to said plane and with its own axis extending substantially normal to said plane, a mechanical pencil having a fixed outer casing slidably mounted within said tubular casting, means for swinging said pencil between an inoperative position and an operative position so that the end of the lead will normally describe an arc starting above said given plane and finishing below said plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversely of said plane, and including a disc oscillatably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said tubular casting and disposed below and to one side thereof, a crank arm having one end pivoted eccentrically of said disc, the other end of said crank arm fixed to the lower end of said pencil, an electromagnet for rotating said disc in a direction to move said pencil from its inoperative position when energized, a spring for moving said disc in the other direction, said pencil including a lead carrying tube slidably mounted within said outer casing, and a compression spring acting between said lead carrying tube and outer casing to normally urge the lead out of the pencil and adapted to allow retraction of the lead as the lead engages the sheet during its marking stroke whereby engagement between the lead and sheet throughout the marking stroke is under spring tension to insure a uniformly dense mark.

3. A marking device for placing a short, straight line on a sheet of material supported fiatwise in a given plane, and comprisin in combination a fixed supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, a tubular casting rotatably mounted on said supporting bracket with its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to said plane and with its own axis extending substantially normal to said plane, a mechanical pencil having a fixed outer casing slidably mounted within said tubular casting, means for swinging said pencil between an inoperative position and an operative position so that the end of the lead will normally describe an arc starting above said given plane and finishing below said plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversely of said plane, a lead carryin tube rotatably and slidably mounted within said outer casing of the pencil, a stick of lead adapted to be worn off by friction against the sheet and frictionally retained within said tube with one end extending therefrom, a pusher rod extending into the top of said lead carrying tube and having its lower end engaging the top end of the stick of lead, a threaded connection between said lead carrying tube and said pusher rod, means for preventing said pusher rod from rotating so that rotation of said lead carrying tube will cause said pusher rod to be fed axially downward and in turn expel the stick of lead from the pencil, a compression spring between said outer casing and said lead carrying tube normally urgin said tube outwardly and permittin said tube and lead to be retracted as, and during the time, the lead engages the sheet, and means for rotating said lead carrying tube in response to said pencil swingin from its operative position to its inoperative position.

4. A marking device for placing a short, straight line on a sheet of material supported flatwise in a given plane, and comprising in combination a fixed supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, a tubular casting rotatably mounted on said supporting bracket with its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to said plane and with its own axis extending substantially normal to said plane, a mechanical pencil having a fixed outer casing slidably mounted within said tubular casting, means for swinging said pencil between an inoperative position and an operative position so that the end of the lead will normally describe an are starting above said given plane and finishing below said plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversely of said plane, a lead carrying tube rotatably and slidably mounted within said outer casing of the pencil, a stick of lead adapted to be worn ofi by friction against the sheet and frictionally retained within said tube with one end extending therefrom, a pusher rod extending into the top of said lead carryin tube and havin its lower end engaging the top end of the stick of lead, a threaded comiection bedownward and in turn expel the stick of lead from the pencil, a compression spring between said outer casin and said lead carrying tube normally urging said tube outwardly and permitting said tube and lead to be retracted as, and during the time, the lead engages the sheet, and means for rotating said lead carrying tube in response to said pencil swingin from its operative position to its inoperative position, said last mentioned means comprising a ratchet fixed to the upper end of said lead carrying tube and a pawl pivotally mounted on said tubular casting adapted to engage and index said ratchet during movement of said pencil from its operative position to its inoperative position.

5. A marking device for placing a short, straight line on a sheet of material supported fiatwise in a given plane, and comprisin in combination a fixed supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, a tubular casting rotatably mounted on said supporting bracket with its axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to said plane and with its own axis extending substantially normal to said plane, a mechanical pencil having a fixed outer casing slidably mounted within said tubular casting, means for swinging said pencil between an inoperative position to an operative position so that the end of the lead will normally describe an are starting above said given plane and finishing below said plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversely of said plane, a lead carrying tube rotatably and slidably mounted within said outer casing of the pencil, a stick of lead adapted to be worn off by friction against the sheet and frictionally retained within said tube with one end extending therefrom, a pusher rod extending into the top of said lead carrying tube and havin its lower end engaging the top end of the stick of lead, a threaded connection between said lead carrying tube and said pusher rod, means for preventing said pusher rod from rotating so that rotation of said lead carrying tube will cause said pusher rod to be fed axially downward and in turn expel the stick of lead from the pencil, a compression spring between said outer casing and said lead carrying tube normally urgin said tube outwardly and permitting said tube and lead to be retracted as, and during the time, the lead engages the sheet, and means for rotating said lead carrying tube in response to said pencil swinging from its operative position to its inoperative position, said last-mentioned means comprising a ratchet fixed to the upper end of said lead carrying tube with its teeth extending downwardly toward the point of the pencil, a pawl pivotally mounted on said tubular castin below said ratchet adapted to engage and index the same in response to the longitudinal component Of the arcuate movement of the pencil in moving from its operative position to its inoperative position, said ratchet and pawl relatively disposed so that said ratchet will be moved longitudinally enough to engage said pawl due to longitudinal movement of the pencil at substantially the instant the pencil lead reaches said given plane during its marking stroke but will be held in spaced relation to said pawl unless the top of said lead has worn away sufficiently to allow said compression spring to force said lead carrying tube longitudinally of the pencil to an extent necessary to bring the ratchet and pawl into engagement.

6. A marking device for placing a short,

straight line at spaced intervals on a sheet of material adapted to be intermittently fed across and supported fiatwise in a given plane, and comprising in combination a mechanical pencil having a stick of lead adapted to be worn off by friction against the sheet, a supporting bracket disposed above said given plane, means for movably mounting said pencil on said supporting bracket so that the end of its lead in moving from an inoperative position to an operative position will normally describe an are starting above said given plane and finishing below said given plane with the two positions spaced from one another in a direction extending transversely of the path of movement of said sheet, and including means for pivoting said pencil on an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the pencil and which pivotal axis is located above said sheet of material, extends in the same direction as the direction of movement of the sheet and is slightly inclined relative to said given plane whereby the longitudinal axis of the pencil leans slightly from the normal to said plane in the direction of movement of said sheet, means for selectively moving said pencil between its two positions, means for mounting said lead in the pencil so that it is capable of a limited sliding movement between an extended and a retracted position, a compression spring normally moving said lead to its extended position and allowing said lead to be retracted as it engages said sheet during movement 6f the pencil between its two positions, and means for periodically rotatably indexing said lead in a clockwise direction whereby the aspect of the end of the lead to the sheet is periodically changed and the edge of the mark on the leaving side of the lead is the most dense portion of the mark and is a straight line.

7. A. marking device according to claim 6 including means for adjusting the position of said pencil longitudinally and transversely of the path of movement of said sheet to alter the position at which the mark is made on the sheet, said means comprising a horizontal mounting plate fixed above said given plane in parallel relation therewith and provided with an aperture, an adjustable plate on which said pencil and its supporting bracket are mounted, means for adjustably connecting said adjustable plate in face-to-face relation with said mounting plate with the pencil extending through said aperture so that said adjustable plate can be moved longitudinally and transversely of said mounting plate, cooperating means on said two plates for releasably locking the two in any one of a plurality of different given adjusted positions, an extension on said adjustable plate extending beyond the front vertical edge of said mounting plate, cooperating scales on the front edge of said mounting plate and said extension for indicatin the different adjustments which the pencil is capable of transversely and longitudinally of said given plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

